In a historic move that underscores Bangladesh’s determination to modernize its armed forces under the Forces Goal 2030 plan , Dhaka is now moving ahead with plans to acquire 20 Chengdu J-10CE multi-role fighter jets from China in a deal worth around US$2.2 billion. The acquisition is the largest purchase in the country’s military aviation history and marks a major turning point for the Bangladesh Air Force as it transitions to the era of 4.5 generation fighter aircraft.
Bangladesh Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan revealed last month that the country’s interim government had given in-principle approval for the procurement of multi-role and high-capability strike fighter aircraft, along with surface-to-air missile systems and new long-range radar capabilities. Payment for the acquisition will be scheduled in stages over a ten-year period, ending in fiscal year 2035–2036, while the first deliveries are expected to be fully completed by 2027.
The proposal comes after Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’ official visit to Beijing in March 2025, during which Chinese leaders expressed strong support for Dhaka’s efforts to modernize its defense. An 11-member inter-ministerial committee headed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, has been formed to finalise the purchase, assess the contract terms, and oversee aspects of financing, logistics, training and industrial cooperation.
Although finance officials declined to confirm the details of the agreement, the in-principle approval by the interim government suggests that negotiations are now in the final stages before full implementation. The planned acquisition also reflects Beijing’s success in exporting fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets to developing countries, positioning China as a direct competitor to Western and Russian suppliers in the rapidly growing South Asian defense market.
For Bangladesh, this agreement marks a break from historical dependence on Russian and Western-made defense systems, thus demonstrating the country’s new strategic alignment towards China’s defense technology ecosystem that includes radars, missiles and integrated electronic warfare systems. Defense analysts believe that the entry of the J-10CE aircraft will not only strengthen Bangladesh’s deterrence capabilities against possible air aggression, but also enhance its maritime strike capabilities in the Bay of Bengal, which is increasingly becoming an area of competition for energy resources and strategic trade routes.
In addition, this agreement is also expected to include elements of long-term industrial cooperation with Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and Aviation Industry Corporation of China, to pave the way for the formation of maintenance, repair and technology transfer capabilities that can foster Bangladesh’s local aerospace industry. The introduction of the J-10CE aircraft is expected to accelerate this grand aspiration by placing Bangladesh in the exclusive group of Asian countries operating 4.5 generation fighter aircraft.
